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March 28, 2024 8:14 am
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The Hunt For The Perfect Pumpkin

By CATHERINE ELLERTON

The Progress

Waverly Peterson (left) holds up her pumpkin find with pride while her nephew Holden Peterson (right) has found another use for his. PHOTO BY JESSICA PETERSON. The Progress.

“You have to be able to carry it!” were the words which rang out loud and clear from local mom Chloe Watts as she followed a pack of eager pumpkin hunters rushing across the pumpkin patch at the MVHS Ag Farm last week.

This reporter had found her way to the pumpkin patch with the help of Sophia Rowley, who is the current Treasurer of the local FFA chapter. Rowley has been in the organization for two years after joining because her family had been involved and she thought she would like to try it out. She explained that she had raised a steer (Angus mix) one year and showed it at the Fair, then she joined the Food, Science Class at school.

We passed the garden and the green house with the raised beds and Sophia explained they did have animals on the farm. But for this weekend event they were moved to another field. The students learned how to brand, worm and ear-tag the livestock.

FFA Advisory Denise O’Toole explained that the group had been planting the pumpkin field every summer in anticipation of a fall harvest for about 15 years now. The FFA hosts this annual pumpkin hunt as a fundraiser.

Nash Delafrance (4 yrs. old), Degan Hammons (7) and Mckailynn Logue (9) hold up their favorite pumpkins and demonstrate the faces that will be carved on them. PHOTO BY CATHERINE ELLERTON/The Progress.

The local FFA chapter currently has a total of 140 students overall. There are several classes with about 14 students. Kevin O’Toole is the Farm Manager and Bryan Linford is another FFA Advisor.

The laughter and squeals coming from the pumpkin patch aroused a reporter’s curiosity, so I followed them out into the field.

I spoke with 13-year-old Ashlynn McKee who explained how her family enjoyed carving them and baking the seeds which were so good to eat!

I met young Ilona Schupbach who said she looked for size and color as she liked to paint on the face after it was carved out. She explained that her family has a “hobby farm” in Logandale where they enjoy raising sheep, goats, pigs and even a turtle.

Young Mckailynn Logue, Degan Hammons and Nash Delafrance spent a lot of time looking for just the right pumpkins. When they were finally found, I asked them to describe just how they were going to carve a face on them. At which time they picked up their pumpkin, held it near their heads and demonstrated exactly what plans they had in mind.

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